Cowboys' $10 million-dollar man

THE Cowboys have trumpeted the re-signing of Jason Taumalolo, with the longest deal in NRL history confirmed by the club.

Taumalolo has agreed to a 10-year deal, reportedly worth $1 million-a-season, that will make him a Cowboys for life.

In a statement released by the Cowboys, the Dally M Medal winning superstar said he was honoured to be staying in Townsville long-term.

"I'm very proud and honoured to be able to say that I'm staying a Cowboy for life," Taumalolo said.

"This club - including my teammates, the coaching staff, and the people that are its heart and soul - mean the world to me, as do our amazing members and fans.

"One of the greatest pleasures of being a professional rugby league player with the North Queensland Cowboys is running out on to our home ground at the start of the game and hearing that roar.

"I started this amazing journey as a young kid in the academy program in a Cowboys jersey and I'll finish up in one."

The club's football manager Peter Parr was understandably delighted to get the deal over the line.

Taumalolo has for some time been among the most in-demand players in the competition and Parr said retaining him would hold the club in good stead for a long time.

"On current form, Jase is one of the best players in the competition and given his age we felt the longer that we could secure him for, the better for everybody," Parr said.

"It (the deal) gives Jase good security and the club knows that it's secured the best young forward in the game for a considerable period of time.

"We wanted a win-win in this deal - as we do with every player negotiation - and that's what we've got."

After debuting as a teenager under Neil Henry, Taumalolo has made huge strides in his development under Paul Green, culminating in a premiership and the highest individual honour in the game.

Green described the superstar as "extremely coachable" and credited him for being a huge part in the club's recent success.

"I've been privileged to have watched Jase mature into an extremely talented footballer and it's been a pleasure to see him improve year in, year out," Green said.

"He's extremely coachable, always wants to improve and has been integral to our recent success. This new deal is fantastic news for Jase, for our club, for our partners, for our members and fans, and for his current and future teammates."